Could a cartoon or video game take the sting out of allergy tests for kids?
NCT ID NCT07796087
First seen Aug 31, 2026 · Last updated Sep 01, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This trial tests whether three distraction techniques, animated cartoons, DistrACTION Cards, and interactive video games, can lower pain and anxiety in children aged 6 to 10 during allergy skin prick testing. Researchers will compare each distraction with standard care across 161 children. Children, parents, and researchers will rate pain and anxiety before, during, and after the procedure. The goal is to find a simple, drug-free way to make allergy testing more comfortable for kids.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Three behavioral distraction techniques: animated cartoons, DistrACTION Cards, and interactive video games, compared with standard care.
- What this could lead to
- If one distraction works well, clinics could adopt it to make allergy skin prick testing less stressful for children.
- What could go wrong
- The trial is small and measures short-term pain and anxiety, so results may not apply to other procedures or settings. Some children may not respond to the distractions.
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Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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161 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Nov 2019
- Finished
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Jan 2020
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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6 to 10 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Aged 6-10 years * Referred for allergy skin prick testing * Consent of both child and parent * No analgesic use in the previous six hours * Able to understand the Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale and answer the card questions Exclusion Criteria: * Neurodevelopmental conditions (diagnosis of autism or intellectual disability) * Chronic mental, cognitive, or visual problems * Cognitive, visual, or hearing impairment preventing scale use
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Bakirkoy Dr. Sadi Konuk Research and Training Hospital
Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye)
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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